**Introduction**

China total war is both a pet project and mindless obsession. This is not a historical representation, as I lack the model making ability to pull off such feat. This faction is purely custom, made to enjoy stomping the AI and because have such a deep appreciation Old Foxe's source material that I can't bear to see it die. I have been working on this faction mod for about 2 years and I will probably continue to do so as time goes on (and hopefully) more mod tools are provided. Below is a full faction description done in Squash_the_Hunter's style because I really like how he broke everything down in his Factions of Warhammer Posts (https://www.reddit.com/r/totalwar/comments/469f6r/factions_of_warhammer_index/). This is for anyone who was interested in the ideas behind my concept design. Also provided there is not another update to fix the last one. I'm still attempting to bring the Kingdom Under Heaven Mod back thanks for all the support it received. Be Safe People.

**MOD LINK** (https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=637307435&tscn=1457567887)

**Summary**

As European and Arab travelers started reaching the Far East, they described a great empire equal to Rome both in size and might. This Chinese-controlled Empire became known in the west as Great Cathay. Cathay was the supreme power in the eastern hemisphere, advanced in both Civil control as well as Military tactics, there never ending military machine, is only made more deadly by a culture that defines war as an Art form.
Cathay's armies are large and varied. They can be compared to Rome in that they both have a focus on State trained Heavy infantry units supported by various auxiliaries drawn up from the myriad of nations and cultures they have supplanted. The major difference is in their Leadership and combat performance.

**Core Concepts**

*Greatest Empire of the Far East!* Cathay has access to most varied roster available making more diverse army builds viable then any other factions. With everything from War Camels to War Monks, and contemporary units of every conceivable type and quality. Cathay has more toys to bring to the fight then anyone else. Its all a matter of having the right ones at the right times. Cathayian equipment is just as varied and for the most part on par or better then its western counterparts.

*Large but who's in charge?* Cathayian units are larger then other factions. This gives them a strong flanking ability, allowing most units to envelope native units or spread out to cover more terrane and still keep good depth. The down side, larger units are harder to control and more expensive. Since the moral per soldier is more spread out, they suffer extra heavily from moral penalties such as flanking, focused missile fire or the worst, other units routing. Making them prone to mass routs as they spread panic and doubt among themselves. When winning and organized they are strong, when losing or in disorder, they are less then worthless.

*Ant Mentality.* The peoples of the east as whole were shorter in size then there western counter parts. Instead of shrinking the units which leads to weird animation issues, this is reflected a slight health debuff applied in the stats. More soldiers in a unit means more health is spread out per soldier, these together make the average Cathayian soldier weaker but more numerous. To compensate they have higher then average armor values, giving them the cover they need to survive missile fire and the density to engage head on, crushing their enemies under the weight of their numbers before limited constitution can become a serious factor.

*White Riders.* The Cathayian pacification of the nomadic steppe tribes was brutal and efficient. In the campaign against the Xiongnu a commander became famous for his use of white horses in his regiments. The Xiongnu viewed the white horses as sacred and would flee from them especially. Since then Cathayian cavalry has been composed almost exclusively of white horse war mounts. Any white horse is considered property of the Emperor, making possession of one out side of the military, a grave crime. Cathayian White War horses are bred for endurance and speed, making them slightly faster then most mounts even with the addition of an armored soldier.

*Yin & Yang.* Both the Cathayian military and culture are in constant struggle with the two extreme ends of there natures. The militaries greatest asset is in its sheer volume and size, but this requires smaller elite units used in conjuction in order to be effective. Having to many elites means you don't have the numbers to make proper use of your strengths, having to little means your troops not having the resolve to match up to western warriors. Conversely if you focus on military might and ignore civil matters, the natives will rise up in rebellion time and time again and the coffers will run dry trying to pay for such a massive host to police them. Making permanent conquest difficult to impossible. A balanced policy of civil progression with swift decisive wars is the hall mark of any Cathayian Leader.

**Traits**

*The Art of War*

*Officer Tradition*: Passive +10 unit experience gain per turn
(Means troops vet overtime making long standing armies much more valuable then hastily raised ones. This also allows low tier troops to still keep pace with powerful late game units, if they are kept around long enough to grow.)

*Stretched Supply Lines*: +25% Upkeep while in foreign territory
(Both a thematic tie in, as well as a practical feature. With their larger man power costs, feeding, equipping and paying them becomes substantially more difficult. As a society viewed as alien and hostile, this is compounded when in enemy country were guides must be bribed and traitors found in order for safe operations to proceed. This discourages drawn out campaigns and long city sieges. This makes hasty conquests essential to the survival and prosperity of the state.)

*Desperate Ground*: +20 morale while in foreign territory
("Sun Tzu said; Put them in a spot where they have no place to go, and they will die before fleeing." To help counter the weak willed constitutions of its lesser troops, Cathayian Generals are known for throwing there men into almost certain death. With no escape the only alternative is to fight or die. Then a man will fight even if he has no breath in his lungs, strength in his arm or courage in his heart.)

**Trait Summary**

"Desperate Ground", "Officer Traditions", and "Stretched Supply Lines" form a contradictional line of thinking . The General should always want to fight in foreign lands, as a method of forcing unity in his troops using "Desperate Ground". While the Minister should always want to keep the troops at home, bolstering the economy to prevent "Stretched Supply Lines" , and allowing "Officer Traditions" to stack on up on standing forces. To get the best out of the Cathayian traits, the goal is to achieve a balance between aggression and patience emphasizing the reliance on lighting strikes on high priority targets, before getting bogged down while supplies dwindle.

**Leadership**

Cathayian leadership is based on a centralized system founded on highly trained loyal officers.

*A)* Cathayian armies are led by Imperial General. He comes attended by a unit of Imperial Cavalry that act as his bodyguard both on and off the battlefield. Able to inspire both threw his presence and action, there is no army with out a general to lead it.

*B)* The Imperial Officer Cadres represents a group officers forming a command battalion, they behave alot like mini generals. What makes them unusual is there low soldier count and ability to buff moral passively as well as actively threw several abilities. They are indispensable for keeping your battle lines intact and countering the Chinese low moral constitution, with out having to risk your general in the worst of the fighting.

*C)* Another option to steel your men's resolve is addition of some Temple monks. Trained since birth in the art of martial combat, there presence on the battlefield does much to encourage thoughts of victory. Possessing many abilities and great combat stats, there only weakness is there cost and lack of any equipment, having no armor and only a Bo staff for defense they are a poor choice for a front line unit, being to valuable to lose and lacking any resistance to take heavy punishment, regulating them to a supportive role. There are two offensive varations of the monks that come equppied with better weapons at the cost of their moral buffing abilites, making them excellent light infantry.

**Soldiers**

Cathayian units come three forms, "Provincial Guard" are state trained militia troops. "Auxiliaries" are secondary units that come in 3 sub categorizes. Native defectors, conscripted tribal elements, and Indian Guild Mercenaries. With the "Imperial Guard" making up the top tier units.

**1: "The Provincial Guard"**

The Provincial element of Cathay's military forces is easily the largest and make up most of the main Cathayian military bulk. With the empire as large as it is, Cathayian Provinces are allowed a level of autonomy as well as their own standing military forces to police themselves and the imperial trade ways. Military service is required of all peasantry for a period of 20 years after which they can retire, receive training only once a year, and are conscripted again in times of need. Though not to be relied on alone, they are well equipped and in the right conditions stalwart defenders of the Cathayian gains in the new world.

*Iconic Units*

Provincial forces have no real distinct units being made up of basic unit types like spearmen swordsmen and archers of below average quality with standard cavalry. Though they don't excel at any area but they don't fall particularly short in any ether, both there great strength and weakness.

**2: "Auxiliaries"**

Cathayian Auxiliaries forces reflect the Cathayian pension for both disdain of foreign cultures and fondness for practical solutions.

**A)Defectors Regiments**

Are made up of men with military experience from other cultures who decided to side against there own kind. Famous for pitting enemies against other enemies, good quality "Defectors" make a valued contribution to the war effort, if a never entirely trusted one.

*Iconic Units*

*Fu Lin Defectors.* Made up of displaced and captured men from regions still under Byzantine control. Forsaken there petty Emperor for a greater master, they fight in the roman tradition with spear and shield.

*Dashi Defectors.* Made up of displaced and captured Arabians, and Saracens from across the great deserts. These sellswords care not who they are sent against, as long as the gold is good.

**B)Tribal Auxiliaries**

Representing the repressed nomads and tribal cultures brought to heel by the Cathayian boot. Displaced Xiongnu, Xianbei, Wuhuan and many other of the countless central Asian tribes, as well as newly incorporated western ones, make up these units. More bargain bin by nature. They are untrained and unschooled in "disciplined" ways of war often seen as nothing more then a distraction or a way to draw fire away from more valuable units. Still they retain their fierce independent spirit and can inflict surprising damage if ignored or find there way into the back lines.

*Iconic Units*

*Horse Thieves.* When the greatest of the Nomads tribes in central Asia were finally put down, a harsh penalty was enacted to keep them down. On the eve of there conquest the reigning Emperor's 1st decree was to forbid Nomadic tribes from breeding trading or owning horses of any kind, for any reason. All of their herds were taken or killed. Any horse traders found selling to Nomads were drawn and quartered with their familes put to death soon after. Since that day many Nomadic horse thieves can be found wondering the Central Asian deserts. If captured they suffer one of two fates. Summary execution or immediate conscription into service to steal from Cathay's enemies. Most see little difference between the two.

*Stolen Cavalry.* Horse thieves who make off with there prize are no less safe. Any nomad found with a horse is assumed to have stolen it, and is ether executed or conscripted depending on the current need for skilled riders. If conscripted, the horse is his but his life is not. A fair trade for any true son of Tengri.

*Tribal Irregulars.* They shout and curse, stabbing wildly; more brawlers than warriors. They make a wondrous mess of things. Brave amateurs, that do their part. Tribal regiments have a long history in the Cathayian military that dates back to the very beginning. Despite this they have always been held in contempt and disregard. While cheap and plentiful, most Cathayian commanders are loath to use them as they represent the polar opposite to the Cathayian dogma of discipline and uniformity.

**C)Indian Trade Guilds**

In the wake of Cathay's gains other entities have flourished in its shadow. The Indian Trade Guilds being the most noticeable. Having accumulated large amounts of wealth and power selling goods and Mercenaries to the Cathayian military machine and at times, in secrete, its enemies. They have some of the longest standing trade routes in the world, time will tell if there reach exceeds there grasp.

*Iconic Units*

*Indian Guild Warriors.* Amazing shock troops in heavy armor, wielding two handed sickles, with years of training. The only thing more impressive then their combat ability is their asking price.

*Indian Guild longbowmen.* They can out range just about anything short of and artillery piece, this power both keeps them safe and allows them to punch threw even the thickest armors or budgets.

*Indian Guild Clippers.* Stealthy assassins who can ambush a unit and destroy it in seconds with grenades followed by a frenzied charge with there dual swords. The enemy wont see them coming, and nether will your treasurer.

**3: "Imperial Guard"**

Made up of veterans that have proven themselves in provincial service, they are elevated to the status of petty noble and sent to an Imperial Capital for training. "Imperial Guard" units are loyal to the Empire and the Emperor only, they contains the best warriors the east has to offer, both well equipped and well motivated. The fate of an empire weights on their shoulders and the words of the emperor echo in there hearts.

*Iconic Units*

*Imperial Executioners.* Extremely aggressive and heavily armored. Armed with large two handed axes and honored for each head taken threw combat or imerpial justice. In battle they are completely ignorant to any dangers in there quest for heads and glory .

*Imperial Bladesmen.* Often Temple warriors will leave the temple for service military service in the Imperial Court. They are trained to march and fight as professional soldiers, equipped by the best, and given honorable positions as Imperial Court Guards. After decades of training, there natural martial prowess has reached its peak, giving these master warriors a terrifying grace in the slaughter of lesser men.

*Imperial Vanguard.* The Vanguard is composed of the bravest (or most fool hardy) men that can be found. For the elite of the elite there is no other option but forward. They use there Dagger-axes to charge threw formations to cause as many casualties as they can in effort to give time for the rest of the army to gain a favorable position against there foes. The Vanguard always claims first kill and first fallen. A record they carry with pride.

**How They Play**

*Cathay in battle.* A Cathayian army build revolves around the Moral buffing units. They counter the weak constitutions found in most of their units roster. With out them to keep troops motivated, most of the the lower to mid tier units would flee well before you could get full use out of them. Having such large bodies of men, it is a never ending balancing act to keep up there fighting spirit, as you can only have so many buff units before losing the ability to swarm and overwhelm your opponent. This also makes positioning buff units a top priority. To far, their not buffing as many as units as they could. To close, their in danger of being lost. With out there buff support, units are prone to panic at the slightest hint of a lost battle. Such large bodies men of can spread panic like a ripple across a pond, though the effect originated at one end, it can be felt at the other. With out Cathayian Leadership to stop that chain reaction their unstoppable juggernauts would be nothing but disorganized mobs with little stomach nor talent for prolonged fights, predisposed to bouts of cowardice.

*Cathay in campaign.* The best policy is to play safe in the early game. Focus on teaching up the research trees, and achieving quick easy victories. The enemy is not so much the AI as your own ego. Cathayian forces appear strong when all is well but its when things look grim that they show their true colors. Their units lack the capability for protracted fights, and thanks to there supply issues, the state lacks the capacity to support them. Getting bogged down chasing/fighting multiple stacks or committing to long city sieges, will bleed your economy dry and damage/destroy units preventing the stacks from "Officer Traditions" accumulating to any meaningful levels. As Cathay, a war that is not swift methodical and decisive, is the same as attacking yourself.